Second Chances, Chapter 2:

"Poor woman." Mal reflected as he closed the door behind them.

"I've got a bad feeling about this case dad."
"I know what you mean but we've still got to try. Are you with me?"
"Of course I am." Jake looked at the photograph and wondered where everything had gone wrong for the beautiful girl in the picture with her whole life ahead of her. "Where do you want to start?"
"I'll check all the morgues and hospitals for Jane Does. Why don't you go flash her picture around town. Maybe we'll get lucky and somebody will remember her."
"I hope you're right." Jake took the picture and headed for his GTO. The sooner they solved this case the better. He pulled out his cell and dialled in the number "Des, get dressed we've got a case."

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"Hey Sergeant Bennet. Welcome back." Hood greeted Leslie as she walked into their office and made her way to her desk, "I'm glad to see you're feeling better."

"Much better, thank you." She smiled. "I hope things haven't been too busy for you?"
"Nothing we couldn't handle." Leslie sorted through the paperwork on her desk as she settled back into the routine. "You look rested." He grinned, always after the latest gossip.

"Look Hood I can't thank you enough…."

"Please." Hood cut her off. "Let's not mention it. How's Jake doing anyway?"
"He still has a few broken ribs but his doing well. Best kind."
"Really?" Hood didn't know all the details, but he knew they had been to hell and back.

"He's been having these nightmares, Becker really put him through the wringer."
"Well if you need anything…"

"I will…"
"And give him my best ok. I may not have always liked the guy but he's a good man."

"Wow Hood…"

"I know, I know."

"Bennet. Good to see you're back" A well-dressed man in a charcoal suit announced as he handed her a case file.

"Thank you sir."

"We've been asked by the local Mayor to make these cases a priority. It seems we have a bunch of no good kids running around and robbing local ma and pa shops. Same MO every time in and out, they take the cash from the till and leave before the cops can arrive." Bennett looked over the file.

"They can't be any more than sixteen or seventeen. They're just kids."

"Well the local merchants are up in arms. They want protection and the Mayor means to give it to them so I suggested you get to it and find out who they are because we're all pulling double shifts until you do."
"I'll do my best sir." Leslie promised. Great. Just when she was looking forward to spending some time with Jake, she was going to have to work around the clock instead. Jake wasn't going to be happy.

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"Have a nice day." The young attended greeted her last customer before reaching into the back room to grab some ore boxes of chips and snacks. They were selling like hot cakes today and she could barely keep the shelves stacked. Carrying the box awkwardly due to its weight, she manovered carefully around the counter and over to the stand by the door. Smiling at the young couple that came in, she used her box cutters to open the carton and started to place the chips on the shelf.

"Don't make any sudden moves and nobody gets hurt." She heard him say as she felt the cool metal pressed against the back of her neck. She dropped the bag of chips she was holding and stood still.
"Please, I don't want no trouble. What do you want?"
"Open up the safe and give us all of your cash."
"It's in the back room, behind the soft drink cases."

"Show me." She felt herself being pulled to her feet by the colour of her work uniform. She was being pushed so fast that she thought she was going to trip over her own feet. Throwing the soft drink cases to the floor, she exposed the safe.

"It's all in there." She pointed to him.

"What's the combination?" He asked as she noticed a third man emptying the cash register.

"I…I…"
"It's not worth dying for."
"" He pushed the digits on the key pad and waited for the door to fling open.

"Quickly D." The second gunman panicked.

"Take it easy. Find a bag and collect that cash." Within seconds, the gunman had grabbed what they came for and left Sandy tied up in the back room before locking the door and flipping the closed sign on the door as they left. It was their third burglary that day. In and out fast before anyone could raise the alarm.

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"Police have notified all merchant to be on alert. These guys aren't pros but they're fast." Hood began showing her a few crime scene photos and taking her through his notes.

"Looks like they know what they're doing to me." Leslie disagreed,

"There's always three of them, armed and disguised." He continued.

"Do we have anything on them at all?"
"Two witnesses have noted that one of them seems to be known as D but it's not enough to go on."
"Has anyone ben injured?"
"Not yet, but they are getting a real taste for this and the merchants have had enough. Sooner or later one of them id going to fight back."
"Then it will be an all out war on our hands. We have to find them, now."
"The Brass has pulled extra guys in to increase patrols, I thought we could go and patrol the streets, keep an eye out for anyone fitting the general description. It's only early in the morning, my guess is they will hit another joint by the end of the day."
"I'll meet you in the car, there's just something I need to do first."
"Good to have you back partner."
"Good to be back." She smiled. As Hood left to sign them out, Leslie looked around for her vest and gun. No sense in heading out unprepared. She only hoped she wouldn't have to use them. Criminals or not they were only kids.

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"Any luck Dad?" Jake asked as he rang his father for an update.

"There's no sign of her thank god. That means she must be out on the streets somewhere. That's a good sign at least.

"Depends how you look at it I suppose."

"No matter how many mistakes your children make they're still a part of you. No matter how bad it is I'm sure Mr and Mrs Kingston would be glad to find her alive than to find out shed passed away."
"I've tried the local hangouts, no ones talking. I'm going to just keep my eyes open a little longer. I'll meet you back at the office n half an hour, there's two more places I want to try out."
"Good luck son."
"Thanks old man."